Monday, December 7, 2009

37. YSL Singulier Mascara [A Video Product Review]

Click here to watch as my embedding from YouTube isn't working correctly at the moment

(along with everything else that's technological in my life! AH!)




A close up I took this morning with my BlackBerry. (YES, I colored my hair.) And the flash is so bright it washed out my face but look how long my lashes are! Amazing!!

*FTC: I was not paid by YSL, Dior or any other make-up company/beauty retailer for this review. I bought this product with my own money

Sunday, December 6, 2009

36. Christmas Costs More at Neiman's

If this post offends anyone, I apologize in advance but as always, you as a reader have the freedom to click the "x" button in the top right corner.


This topic has been pondering through the dusty whereabouts of my brain for awhile and I tried to stifle it, saying it didn't matter, it didn't need to be addressed but as always, the more you try to shut up a thought, the more adamant it is about getting out. So, I argued with it and made a deal with it (it plead a tough case, I'll tell you what) but we ultimately came to an agreement that I would address this issue solely on the basis for explanation, research and for a deeper understanding among consumers and maybe as a reality check for yours truly over here.

The reason why I'm so hesitant to address this is because let's be honest, money is touchy.

In the college realm that I live in, it's okay to be broke. Well, maybe not okay, but more socially accepted. The excuse, "Can't, I don't have money," is simply nodded at and accepted and either leaves the person left out of the party or at the mercy of his or her friends buying him drinks the entire night.

In the real world, being broke either means you're careless, you're unemployed, you're lazy or you're just plain unlucky. It's somewhat understood but far less accepted. I'm not here to argue whether using the excuse or owning the excuse of being broke should be more socially accepted and less frowned upon in the real world, I'm just here to address these exclamations as supporting examples for the points I want to address.

In the fashion world, being broke doesn't fly at all. In fact, it's a requirement to have money or else you're kicked to the curb with the rest of the penniless folks trudging around in Hanes Beefy T's. Cruel and unusual punishment, I know. Fashion isn't fair and it's expensive. It is! For a basic need, it is expensive. Think about how much your grocery bill compares to your clothing bill, yet they're both basic needs. The need to be fed and the need to be protected and covered by clothing.

And this doesn't even include the accessories; the headbands, the handbags, the shoes, the sandals, the open toed pumps, the bracelets, the scarves, the gloves, the mittens etc.

On the grander scheme of things, I am nowhere near where I would like to be financially to keep up with the pace of the fashion world. I would love to be able to go out and buy Louboutin's every weekend and three or four Hermes handbags whenever I felt like, however, I don't exactly have $800 (or $15,000 for Hermes) lying around every weekened to use at my discrepancy.

BUT I'll be honest, I SEE NOTHING WRONG with the fact in spending that much on a pair of shoes or on a handbag. If you're an able bodied adult who is responsible and you want to spend $15,000 on a handbag, by all means, DO IT. What I can't stand is the sneers from those who can't. It's almost reverse snubbing, in a sense.

"Ick, how frivolous, she just spent that much on a pair of shoes/bag/fashion accessory, she could have donated it to charity."

Maybe she did donate to charity, maybe she just got back from two years of serving the Peace Corp and she wants to treat herself and maybe you should just shut up because you have no authority over her life OR her bank account for that matter.

THAT is what boils my blood. For those who have made those comments or believe that spending money on expensive shoes and bags is silly and wasteful, I kindly ask that you do a self-check and ask yourself who are you to subject your authority over someone's spending habits. (NOW if it's your baby sister or daughter or mother or cousin or husband and they're sending the family straight into Chapter 11, then by all means, you have authority, but you see my point..)

In the blogging realm, I see so much of this. Those who do spend and those who do not and more often thant not, it's those who do not that appear to have this need to try and "snub" those who do. Why read these blogs, then? Why waste time carefully typing out a well thought comment argueing how wasteful someone is? That is five minutes you lost that you could have been worrying about your own life.

Another topic I wanted to bring up is the fashion price tag and how it transforms. And this will be from a personal viewpoint, so please, if you disagree, remember this is my own opionion, not yours.

The more engrossed I become in fashion (remember, I'm a fashion merchandising and business marketing student, I'm neck deep) the more I become numb to the price of it. Spending $600 for a pair of designer shoes (remember, they have leather soles and are hand crafted) isn't expensive. Spending $1200 is, at least to me. A $3,000 handbag (now keep in mind, these are made out of alligator or snake usually) is understandable, although, I usually like to hang around in the $600-800, preferably. A pair of jeans that are $150 is CHEAP in comparison to the $250 or so of my favorite brand, Rock & Republic, anything above $300 and I shy away from. However, to others, anything over $70 bucks would be atrocious to spend on a pair of jeans.

Now this doesn't mean I'm going out every weekend and dropping $600 on shoes and handbags, I am world shopper. I'll shop at Target the very same day I go to Neiman Marcus and then maybe swing by T-J Maxx on the way home while planning a visit to the Louis Vuitton store the next day.

My question is to how do you organize your fashion spending? What is inexpensive to you or expensive? And why? How do you justify it?

And if you find yourself pleading guilty to being one of the "fashion spending snubbers," why? Out of jealousy? Out of spite? Out of annoyance? I'm curious. This is just for me to wrap my head around what consumers are doing versus what the fashion insiders are doing and also to address an issue that has seriously been bothering me in the fashion blogging world. Keep an open mind, ladies, keep it open.

♥ Bridget

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

35. Home Is Where The ♥ Is

I'm back!
I'm back!
I'm back!
I'm back!

As I sit here drinking a Venti Soy Sugar Free Hazelnut Latte because I can (explanation to follow) I am beyond happy to be back. It has felt like an eternity between the time I boarded my flight until now and I'm sure many of you readers were left scratching your heads wondering if I was off on a stranded island, battling the deep abyss that is the Atlantic Ocean while befriending a personified volleyball named Wilson.

But no, I made it back safe and sound and all in one piece. (Now that doesn't go without saying that I may or may not have driven my boyfriend mad with my constant worrying, a few crying fits on the airplane due to my extreme anxiety of flying and a bout of incessant babbling due to one to many cocktails thrown back at the airport bar...oops)

But yet, I did make it. And the trip was fun, we had an amazing view of mountains from our hotel room in Garmisch, he had a great time out in Munich and we were able to spend a lot of down time just appreciating not being busy and enjoying the fact that we were, well in Europe.

However, on the last day, we both were just beyond ready to get back to see our dogs and eat non-salty food and watch American television and have extra large serving sizes again. Now, re-reading that I realize how unappreciative that sounds but keep in mind, I grew up in Europe. I was born and raised there, my immediate family still resides there and he has been to Europe a few times before, so it isn't like we haven't experienced it before.

It's just I think I have seriously under appreciated my life here in the United States and more so in the southern United States. Having not been home in nearly three years to Europe, I constantly idolized and missed my home in Europe and all the rich culture and history that exists there all the while poking fun at the stereotypes that exist here below the Mason-Dixon line and complaining about the lack of style and diversity.

Again however, I have since been enlightened. I have returned home full of undying patriotism and overflowing love for the United States and am beyond thankful for my life here. I love that I can drive thru to my Starbucks, that I can grocery shop at any time of the day (or night) that I can order any type of food at any hour and if I want to drive a gas guzzling Hummer, I damn well can and have ample room on the road to do so.

As a self-proclaimed control freak and a people pleaser, I take comfort in rules and in obedience and I believe in order. It was this past traveling experience (and a bit of maturity) that I have come to realize that control over others (if you haven't caught on by now, I'm referring to socialism) can be extremely detrimental to the inhabitants that live there and that we as Americans, should really take pride in all the self-improvment and growth opportunities that we have here. If I wanted to start my own company tomorrow, I could. It's the freedom and being able to live life my way the I want that I feel is truly under appreciated. I won't get to far into that arguement as I don't have enough credibility myself to really drive a point home, I just honestly have realized how truly free we as Americans are and should continue to strive to be.

On the fashion front, I didn't even do that much shopping, I just didn't feel the need to for some reason (which is beyond unusual!) I guess in the spirit of Thanksgiving I just found I was much more fulfilled by the company that I was surrounded by. Being able to just really spend time with my boyfriend, to just relax and laugh and do whatever we wanted without obligations to work and to school, being able to hug my Mom and my Dad and sit with my younger brothers and then to be able to come back home here to the United States and enjoy the comforts such as the Starbucks drive thru and a friendly wave instead of spending hours just buying things (but don't hold your breath on that note, Christmas is around the corner, the shopping fever will return, I promise!)

Traveling can and will change your life in the strangest of ways, sometimes through enrichment, other times, just by a renewed sense of gratitude. I feel I have truly been enlightened and I hope this new sense of restoration will stick with me quite some time.


But enough talk, onto the pictures!



Heidelberg, Germany, this is the city that I grew up in

The view from our balcony in Garmisch, Germany (the pool was not heated...couldn't figure out the logic behind that one)
The view from the balcony looking left


At 37,000 feet



And this would be us on the plane and for the sake of his privacy, this is the best shot you're going to get of him at the moment! ;)


I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving Holiday and as I said before, I'm back! Yay!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

34. A'revedercci! Aufwiedersehn! Ciao! Tschuss!

Well, since I've already compiled my Christmas lists (Taylor Donovan and Christian Louboutin's Pigalle 120) finished work and schoolwork for the week, I guess I really am all ready for the Thanksgiving Holidays.


Oh wait a minute, wait a minute...no I'm not. I still have this to complete...*run away and hides*


Where is the packing/cleaning/getmylifeinorder fairy? I know she exists somewhere or else how do those amazingly organzined matchy matchy luggage set tote carrying travelers do it?
(Born that way? I think not...)


As I'm reaching for the bottle of vodka, I mean Kava Stress Relief Tea, I wish all of my readers, followers and fellow bloggers out there an amazing Thanksgiving Holiday! Be safe and take the time to relax and really give thanks.

If you're seeing your family, enjoy their company, if you're spending it alone, appreciate the peace and quiet of it all.

I'm thankful I'll be spending my break seeing my family and getting to actually spend time with my boyfriend exploring Europe. (Well, that's if I don't drive him absolutely mad as I have a tendency to get a little over dramatic when I fly or when I'm anxious...)

So with that said, Happy Thanksgiving to all! See you all in a week!

Bridget

33. Dear Mr. Clause [The Second Draft]

Dear Santa,


This, please!



That is all.

Bridget

*photo courtesy of PerezHilton.com

Thursday, November 19, 2009

32. Disaster




Dear Express,

Rolling around in gasoline is, in fact, hazardous to your health. Please stop subjecting these modesl to such behavior, I'm sure it makes them smell funny, too.
♥ Bridget

Monday, November 16, 2009

31. Outfit Of The Day [OOTD] ♥ 80 Degree November


Wrap: Casale (bought at local boutique)
Dress: Forever 21 (bought in Orlando, Florida)
Boots: Nine West (bought in Savannah, Georgia)

As south Georgia has been experiencing a very warm November, I decided to take one of my favorite summer dress and bring it into the fall season. It's a little strange being able to still lay out by the pool here in the middle of November but in all honesty, I don't mind it all. If we could have this weather (no humidity!) all year round, I would be quite the happy camper.